on the income tax and less reliance on the sales tax. [applause] in my budget, in my budget i will propose that we cut the sales tax from the current rate of 6.25% to 4.5% and dedicate all of the proceeds to a public works fund. that fund will support the transportation plan i have laid out both our existing responsibility and the necessary expansion project. as well as the school building fund, and other public infrastructure. under my plan, sales tax proceeds would be off limits for any other purpose. to support our education initiative, my budget will propose that we increase the income tax by 1 percentage point to 6 % 25% to make that increase fair to all according to their ability to pay. i will propose that we double the personal exemptions for every taxpayer, and eliminate a number of itemized dedeductions. making those changes gives us a tax code that is simpler and fairer. let me add that with these changes are sales, income, and business taxes will be comparable to and other states in the region beyond with which we compete. th